Explanatory note

These Rules make amendments to the Firearms Rules 1998 (S.I. 1998/1941) (“the 1998 Rules”).

Rule 2 amends rule 3 of the 1998 Rules to require, as a condition of a firearm certificate, that high muzzle energy rifles are stored in accordance with at least one of the ‘Level 3’ security measures identified in the Firearms Security Handbook 2020, published by the Home Office and updated on 20th January 2021, or equivalent measures. “High muzzle energy rifles” are rifles from which a shot, bullet or other missile, with kinetic energy of more than 13,600 joules at the muzzle of the weapon, can be discharged.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.